TCEB to tap Australia’s event market

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau says Australia is a key market to fuel growth for Thailand’s business event industry.

TCEB president, Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, said Thailand business events sector is driven by significant business growth from Australia and Oceania.

TCEB reported a 137% increase in Australian visitors in 2014 to 37,947 and claims the market is delivering a strong growth in corporate meetings and incentive travel.

The Thailand CONNECT the World campaign was introduced in Australia for the first time at AIME 2015, late last month.

To boost the market, TCEB also launched a special meetings bonus which offers organisers financial subsidies for groups of 100 or more delegates who visit Thailand for four nights or longer to attend corporate meetings and incentives.

With applications open until 30 June this year for events that visit Thailand before 30 September, the offer is available in long haul markets such as Oceania, Europe, the Americas, and Africa.

In the Australian market, groups of 100 or more, organisers will receive a subsidy of AUD3,333, while larger groups of 300 will receive AUD10,000, and organisers facilitating groups of 1,000 people or more are eligible for AUD33,333.

TCEB president added: “We forecast visitor numbers to grow to 39,500 in 2015, delivering revenue AUD115.7 million, while in Oceania we anticipate 50,000 high quality visitors, with revenue of AUD146.5 million.”

TCEB does not provide the media with details of its past financial package performance, or the number of corporate events that actually took advantage of subsidiaries. However, financial incentives have been a core element of TCEB promotions since it was established.